Guide wire

Abstract

A guide wire includes a core shaft and a coil body covering an outer surface of a distal portion of the core shaft. The coil body includes a straight section that extends in a straight state from a proximal end of the coil body toward a distal end of the coil body, and a bent section arranged at a distal end of the straight section. The coil body may be formed by winding at least one element wire into a helical coil structure, or by winding a plurality of stranded wires (obtained by stranding a plurality of element wires) into a helical coil structure. The element wires and/or the stranded wires of the coiled body are in contact with each other on a side of the bent section opposite to a side toward which the bent section is bent relative to an axial direction of the straight section.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A guide wire comprising:
 a core shaft; and 
 a coil body covering an outer surface of a distal portion of the core shaft,
 wherein: 
 the coil body is formed by winding a plurality of stranded wires into a helical coil structure, each of the plurality of stranded wires being obtained by stranding a plurality of element wires, 
 the coil body includes a straight section that extends in a straight state from a proximal end of the coil body toward a distal end of the coil body, and a bent section arranged at a distal end of the straight section, 
 first stranded wires form the bent section and second stranded wires form the straight section, 
 a winding angle of the first stranded wires is larger than a winding angle of the second stranded wires so that the stranded wires are in firmer contact with each other on a first side of the bent section than in the straight section, the first side being opposite to a second side facing a bending direction toward which the bent section is bent relative to an axial direction of the straight section, and 
 the winding angle of the first stranded wires is a first acute angle defined by a longitudinal axis of the straight section and a winding direction of the first stranded wires, and the winding angle of the second stranded wires is a second acute angle defined by the longitudinal axis of the straight section and a winding direction of the second stranded wires. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The guide wire according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the bent section is smaller at a proximal end of the bent section than at a distal end of the bent section. 
     
     
       3. The guide wire according to  claim 1 , wherein the straight section is tapered to a smaller diameter toward the distal end of the straight section. 
     
     
       4. The guide wire according to  claim 2 , wherein the straight section is tapered to a smaller diameter toward the distal end of the straight section.